Should Portable Fire Extinguishers Be Banned From The Workplace?

The provision and use of fire-fighting equipment, particularly by untrained persons in the event of a fire, is a contentious issue.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that the responsible person must, where necessary, “take measures for fire-fighting in the premises, adapted to the nature of the activities carried on there and the size of the undertaking and of the premises concerned” and “nominate competent persons to implement those measures and ensure that the number of such persons, their training and the equipment available to them are adequate, taking into account the size of, and the specific hazards involved in, the premises concerned”.

Who should use the extinguisher?

Enforcement Guidance Note 1 states that “fire-fighting equipment should be considered as a means of both prevention and protection, for example, preventing a small fire growing out of control and spreading beyond the area of origin, affecting the means of escape and posing a risk to relevant persons. It is likely therefore that some form of fire-fighting equipment will be necessary in almost all cases.” Government guidance notes support this and state that “safe use of an appropriate fire extinguisher to control a fire in its early stages can significantly reduce the risk to other people in the premises by allowing persons to assist others who are at risk”. However, legislation does not stipulate who should be trained to use fire extinguishers, as this will be dependent upon the fire risk assessment. The guidance also states that “people with no training should not be expected to attempt to extinguish a fire (although) all staff should be familiar with the location and basic operating procedures for the equipment provided, in case they need to use it”.

Assessing the risks

The term “where necessary” is important, as it means that the fire precautions provided and maintained by the responsible person are those needed to reasonably protect relevant persons from risks to them in case of fire. The phrase “reasonably protect” implies that a computation must be made in which the question of risk is placed on one side and the sacrifice involved in instituting the measures necessary for alleviating the risk is placed on the other. The most important point is that all relevant factors are considered and taken into account as an overall approach for the fire risk strategy of the premises in question.

Call Sanjay on 01748 811992 for a “No Nonsense Factsheet” on the safe use of fire extinguishers. I look forward to getting to know you personally.